How women go to the depths in search for glowing face; Is skin care necessary?

Serums that promise eternal youthfulness and creams that claim to erase wrinkles, blackspots and other natural imperfections. Beauty is paraded in every corner as maximum perfection is the ultimate goal. 

But is it worth it? 

Many women indulge follow skin care routines for different reasons. For some, it’s a persuasion of beauty. Others are driven by the influence that media have through beauty influencers and celebrities, making it seem like a trend and a modern lifestyle. 

Some perceive it as a way of expressing themselves as others do it for self-care, health reasons or to elevate their confidence. Yet not many stop to think what it will cost them, regardless of their reasons. How much they each have to spend in pursuit of that beautiful glow.

According to dermatologists, skin care is essential in the quest for a clear and healthy skin. For years, it has been an essential part of the feminine society. In recent years, however, it has greatly shifted from a simple “wash and moisturize” to a cocktail of different products, each with its own role and significance in achieving a clear, smooth skin rid of any lines or wrinkles. 

I mean…who wouldn’t want a glass skin. Which is a popular trend in Korean beauty; where snail mucin is a perfect ingredient for a radiant, luminous and almost translucent glow. 

“I wash my skin every morning and evening,” says Noya Marco, a young accountant in her late twenties. “In the morning I use serum, vitamin C and collagen, followed by sunscreen. In the evening, I cleanse and moisturize,” she continues, further stating how she also has to watch her diet according to her dermatologist. 

Dermatologists advise that skincare does not necessarily need multiple products, but a simple three-step routine will be more than enough for a healthy skin. 

Cleanse, moisturize, and apply sunscreen. 

“There are only three things that are essential in a skin care routine and that is a cleanser, a moisturizer and sunscreen,” says Dr. Aura Melvin, a dermatologist. 

“A cleanser help to remove the dirt that accumulated overtime whereas the moisturizer helps to replenish back moister to the skin as well as help with the protective barrier while the sunscreen help to protect against the UV as well as light from electronic gadgets.”

But skin care routines today cost a dime, draining the pockets of women searching for a glow. 

Noya says she spends more than Ksh.8000 on four products alone. 

Viv is a 21-year-old medical student who invests in skin care routines daily.  However, her routine is unique and inconsistent. 

It consists of products like coconut oil with Vaseline, turmeric, and Aloevera to keep the skin hydrated. 

She applies the products once at midday and washes in the mornings and evenings. According to Viv, a good, radiant skin can still be maintained through either genetics or lots of water and a good diet. 

“A lot of mental health is involved,” she says. “Like accepting your own skin and loving it. Sounds cliché, but it’s true. Also dealing with past traumas,” she continues. 

Viv argues that skin care is more than just about a glowing skin and perfect radiance, but rather about self-love, confidence, and healing from past wounds. 

While other women consider skin care as an essential part of their being, others feel like it is overrated and something that we can all live without or kept in its simplest form. 

Some just are not comfortable with all the fuss that comes with skin care routines. 

“It feels awkward, and a lot of time is wasted. Just keep it simple and perfect. Face just needs a perfect wash and oil. No need to complicate things,” says Margaret. 

Her routine is simple: cleanse the skin, dry, and apply arimis while also exfoliating on weekends. 

She says her simple routine has helped her maintain a clean, fresh, and moist skin without wasting time on numerous products, proving that a simple routine can also give that perfect glow. Expensive does not always mean better. 

“Everyone has a choice and perfect opinion on how to care for their skin. I won’t say much about the cost since as low as 500 can get you the perfect skin care routine. It’s all about opinions,” she continues.

Mendoza is a 23-year-old field assistant at a technical facility up in Turkana County who also shares her opinions on how skin care is essential, but does not necessarily mean expensive products. 

“It’s a waste of time because skin breakouts are seasonal. Girls need to accept that it’s normal. It’s really expensive. I prefer investing in other things than beauty that can be maintained at a cheaper price,” she says. 

Dr. Aura confirms that expensive does not mean better results, “Expensive products does not guarantee being the best product to be used. If it is affordable and it has all the effective ingredients that are required, the formulation is proper and the product goes with the type of skin an individual has, that is the end goal, that is what we are aiming for. Skincare does not necesassirly have to be expensive to be maintained. If you have your finances gathered you do not have to break the bank to manage your skin care routine.”

Many have different perceptions of skin care routines and their reasons for engaging in it or not. 

Mirriam, a young campus student, likes the idea of skin care routines, but held back with the thought of using the same product for a lifetime without turning to others in fear of having a backlash once she stops using the products. 

“My biggest fear is that people say that once you start, going back can damage your skin or rather undo he good things that the routine had done,” she says.

Dr. Aura further emphasizes on one of the most important parts of skin care routines that many people overlook yet can make a huge difference. 

“Sunscreen helps to protect the skin from the UV damage and the screen light that’s actually more damaging because of the proximity when you are using the electrical gadget. Sunscreen also helps to maintain the moisture and all the products applied on the skin. If you don’t lock in the products you’ve applied with the sunscreen, that basically translates to you having done nothing.”

She further states that it can protect one from skin cancer via severe sunburns and advises for everyone to wear their sunscreen. “It is a very simple routine yet it is usually overlooked.”